Forced draft means for automatic stokers



Sept. 13, 1932. HINSCH 1,876,933

FORCED DRAFT MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC STOKERS Filed Sept. 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M yum d 44, A TTOk/VE y Sept. 13, 1932. HINSCH 1,876,933

FOHCED DRAFT MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC STOKERS Filed Sept. 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

14 flofol" J0 INVENTOR/ 2 f M,

% ATTORNEY atented gept. 13, 1932 LOUIS HINSCH, F SIDNEY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CLEVELAND STOKER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO FORCED DRAFT MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC STOKERS fipplication filed September 24, 1929. Serial No. 394,815.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in forced draft means for automatic stokers.

It is one of the principal objects of my ine vention to provide in automatic stokers,

means for directing the draft outside of the :retort over the top of the grates instead of inward into the retort.

re moved mechanically.

Another object of my invention is to provide single and efficient means for introducing gas to theoutward air flow to create a Bunsen effect for starting a fire onthe grates.

it After combustion has been well started, usually at the end of about three minutes, the gas is turned off, but the air blast is continued over the grates to promote a complete consumption of the coal.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the automatic EtOkGI, showing my forced draft and gas starting means applied thereto. Figure 2 is a side view of the forced draft and gas ignition means for the Stoker. Figure 3 is a side view of the retort casting with the parts broken away, showing the fluted air ring thereon.

Figure 4 is a top view of the same. Figure 5 1s a top view of the retort casting, with the air ring removed to show'thegas starting tube. And Figure 6'is a bottom plan view of the air ring itself Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a hopper to receive green coal which is conveyed to a retort 2 through a tube 3 by a feed worm driven through suitable gearing (not shown) by the armature shaft 5 of a motor.

The retort 2 is an elbow shaped casting having an inner bowl portion with an open top through which the green coal flows onto a surrounding grate 6. The green coal enters the inner bowl portion of the casting 2 through its lower tubular horizontal end por- This results in the burning of the coal to an ash, which is retion 7 to which the outer end of the feed tube 3 is connected.

At one side of its tubular end portion? there is formed on the outer wall of the casting 2 an air inlet projection 8 which communicates with an annular air passage 9 formed in the casting between its outer wall and the wall 10 of its inner bowl portion.

Projecting over the space 9 from the top of the inner wall 10 of the casting 2 are two ears 11, 11, each of which contains a tapped hole 12. (See Figure 5.) Into the holes in these ears 11 screws 13 are adapted to be inserted to firmly secure a fluted air ring 1% to the top of the casting. (See Figures 1, 3, 4: and 6).

The air ring 14 comprises an annular casting with a beveled perimeter whose bottom surface is fluted to provide air channels. The inner parts of these channels lie over the air passage 9 in the casting 2, while their outer ends project beyond it to direct air from said passage outwardly overthe grate 6 to promote a complete burning of the coal thereon.

To'deliver a forced draft to the air passage 9 in the casting 2, there isconnected to its air inlet projection 8 one end of a flexible I tube 16 that is connected at its rear end to a blower fan casing 17. (See Figure 2.) Within the latter" there is a fan 18 mounted on the armature shaft 5 of the motor 5. The rapid rotation of this fan by the motor forces a continuous draft of air through the flexible tube 16 and the air passage 9 of the casting against the air ring 14, whose fluted passages direct it outwardly upon the grate 6.

For the purpose of introducing gas to this air flow to start combustion upon the grate 6, I provide the following means. Formed on the inner surface of the outer wall of the retort casting 2 near its top edge, is an annular ledge 17. Resting upon the latter is an annular apertured gas -tube 19 which is bent downwardly at the point 20 and then outwardly for projection through a hole in the casting for connection to a gas supply pipe, not shown. Nhen the gas is turned on, it will flow through the apertures in the tube 19 to unite with the air in the passage 9 for projection as a Bunsen flame upon the grate 6 the continuous blast of air pro ected upon the grate by the fluted air ring 14:, with the result that the coal will be burned to a fine ash which falls onto a rotating ash tray 22 for removal throughan ash pipe 23 by a worm 24. The latter is secured to a shaft 25 to the inner end of which there isattacheda pinion 26 which meshes with a bevel gear 27 fast on the lower end of a vertical shaft 28 journaled in the ash receiving housing 29. The tray 22 upon which the ashes fall is an annular plate which is secured to a flange 30 on the gear 27 below its tooth portion. The rotation of this plate carries the ashes to the inner open end of the pipe 23', where the worm 24 en ages and forces them rearwardly through said pipe for discharge at its rear end in a suitable receptacle (not shown).

Secured to the floor 31 of the furnaceis a guard ring 32 which is formed on its upper edge with an inwardly and downwardly pro jecting flange 33. This flange projects over an upturned flange 34 on the tray 22 to prea vent ashes from packing under the latter.

To the upper part of the flange 33 arms 35 are secured, said arms being bolted at their upper ends to the retort casting to hold the flanged ring 32 in a stationary position while the tray 22 rotates under theflange 34,

Havingdescribed my invention, I claim: 1. In an automatic stoker, the combination with a retort, grates surrounding said retort, mechanical means for forcing coal through said retort onto said grates, an air rin mounted on the retort, said ring being uted to direct air outwardly upon the grates, and i means for forcing air outwardly through the fluted portions of the air ring upon the grates for the purpose specified.

2. In an automatic stoker, the combination w th a retort casting formed with a coal receiving central portion, a wall surrounding the latter to provide an annular air passage, grates surrounding said castings, mechanical means for delivering coal through said retort onto the grates, an air ring mounted upon the retort casting, fluted passages formed in said an rlng communicating with the annular air passage in the casting, said fluted passages 1n the air ring adapted to direct air radially over said grates, and means for delivering a r under pressure to the annular air as-, sage 1n the casting for the purpose 5 eci ed.

3. In an automatic stolier, the corn ination with a retort, grates surrounding the latter,

mechanical means for forcing coal through said retort onto said grates, an air ring mounted upon said retort, radial apertures in said air rmg for directing air outwardly upon said grates, means for delivering air under Let/aces pressure to said ring, and an annular apertured gas tube mounted in said retort below an opening in the casting, an integral shell surrounding the coal receiving partof the casting to provide an annular air space, and to which air is admitted through an opening in the shell near the coal receiving opening, an annular ledge formed on the upper part of the inner side of the outside wall of the casting, an apertured gas tube resting upon said ledge, and an annular ring fluted on its under side, resting upon the casting above the apertured gas tube.

5. In -an automatic s'toker, the combination of a retort, a grate surrounding said retort, mechanical means for forcing coal through said retort onto said grate, an air chamber "in said retort, apertures in said retort communicating with said air chamber and adapted to direct air over said grate, and means supported by said retort adapted to introduce a as, in said air for the purpose specified.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of September, 1929.

' LOUIS L. HllNSCll-ll. 

